Tooth-brush



(No Model.)

. L. W. JONES.

TOOTH BRUSH.

Patented June 16, 1896.

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ATTORNEY.

MYPHUYD-LITHQWASHIHGTDNIC UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LLElVELLYN 'W. JONES, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,995, dated J 1111916, 1896.

Application filed November 14,1895. Serial No. 568,889. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LLEWELLYN W. J ONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inTooth-Brushes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement, hereinafter claimed, inattachments applicable to tooth-brushes, but which may be applied tobrushes of various kinds; and my object is to provide such an attachmentwhich will contract and prevent the spreading apart of the bristles ofbrushes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of anordinary tooth-brush, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing my inventionas applied to such a brush. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theattachment detached. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the headof a tooth-brush without the attachment; and Fig. 5 is a section on theline 5 of Fig. 2, showing the application of the attachment. Fig. 6 is afront or face view of a tooth-brush having the attachment appliedthereto.

1n the use of tooth-brushes it often occurs, particularly when the brushhas been in use for some time, that the bristles of the brush spreadapart more or less, some of the side bristles becoming bent andprojecting laterally from the brush. As the brush is passed to and froover the teeth in the operation of cleansing them these projectingbristles lacerate or pierce the gums and cause irritation and sorenessthereof. To obviate this objection, I have provided an attachment whichmay be applied to tooth-brushes of wellknown form. This attachmentconsists of a ring or band A, of suitable elastic material, such asindia-rubber, adapted to be fitted upon the head of the tooth-brush B insuch manner as to surround the brush-bristles B and be held thereon bythe attaching loops or straps act. The ring or band, when in properposition, surrounds and snugly embraces the bristles, and, owing to theelasticity of the material of which the band is composed,

yieldingly contracts the bristles to a slight extent and slightly forcesthem inward toward each other. To effectively accomplish this purpose,the band, when detached from the brush, should be somewhat shorter thanthe head of the brush in order that when stretched to go over thebristles it will have a tendency to contract and so exert the necessaryyielding pressure upon them without unduly crowding them together. Theband should be of such a depth that when placed in position upon thebrush its top should reach to, say, about midway the length of thebristles, thus leaving the upper or top portions of the bristles exposedand free to perform their function of cleaning.

The attaching loops or straps or, of which there may be any desirednumb'er-in this instance two such straps being shown-are preferably madeintegral with the band and are adapted to be sprung over the head of thebrush to hold the band firmly and detachably in position.

To place the attachment upon the brush, it is only necessary to springthe retainingloops over the head of the brush and the band around thebristles, the elastic material of the attachment readily stretching forthis purpose.

Fig. 4 shows the position usually occupied by the bristles oftooth-brushes before they have become spread apart by wear, and Fig. 5shows the position which my improved attachment causes the bristles toassume.

From the above description it will .be understood thatthe attachment mayreadily be placed upon and removed from tooth-brushes of well-knownform; that when in position on the brush the attachment effectuallyprevents the brush-bristles from spreading apart or projecting laterallytherefrom, while leaving the bristles free to flex or bend when in use,as will readily vbe understood; and that by the employment of myinvention the lives of tooth and other bristle brushes may be prolonged.

To provide for the ready escape of Water and other liquid from the brushafter it has been used, notches or cut-away places a may be made on ornear the bottom edge of the band, which rests upon or comes in contactWith the brush -head. These notches or openings, Which expand when theband is stretched in its operative position, also serve to admit air tothe bristles to insure their proper drying.

I claim as my inventio11-.

The attachment for tooth-brushes consisting of the elastic band forsurrounding the brush-bristles, having the attaching loops or strapsadapted to fit upon the brush-heads 1 o for detachabl y securing theattachment to the brushes, and provided with notches or openings on ornear its edge which comes in contact with the brush-head, substantiallyas described.

In testi1nony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LLEW'ELLYN \V. JONES. \Vitnesses:

EDW. F. SIMPSON, Jr., R. DALE SPARHAWK.

